Beginner snail questions - Aquarium Advice

Janmitch22 · 10-29-2005, 09:48 PM

What exactly do you do to get enough snails in the tank so that there isn't an excess or depletion of snails? Is that even possible? How many should I start off buying? What is a good kind to buy? I have five clown loaches; they range in size from one inch to about two inches. I just want to give them something different. I thought the snails might be a treat and a quirk factor for the tank.

hardcyder · 10-30-2005, 07:36 AM

If you have another small tank around, start a snail only tank. I have a snail and shrimp tank, but feel the glass shrimp eat a lot of the young snails and eggs. That way you can raise a lot more to keep the loaches happy. Afraid with loaches you wont be able to build up much of a colony of snails in the main tank

. I have one yoyo loach in my comunity tank that I got to reduce a snail infestation. He almost wiped them all out.

**Devilishturtles** · 10-30-2005, 10:20 AM

I agree. Start a small snail only tank. You can even get babies from the [acronym:9f2914b70f="Local Fish Store"]LFS[/acronym:9f2914b70f] or pest snails from local aquarists. My clown loaches keep my snail population very much at bay.

Janmitch22 · 10-31-2005, 01:35 AM

Thanks! I'll try to get that project going, then. A couple of more questions....
Just how many snails would a loach eat in a day or so?
Do the snails need a full-on tank with filter and heater?

Devilish, cute picture!

lyquidphyre · 10-31-2005, 03:28 AM

Hey Janmitch- my background settings for AA is a dark blue (and it might be for some other members as well), so when you use dark colors, its hard for me to read =o)

For a snail tank you probably just need an aerator to keep the water circulating and make sure the water stays kind of warm- but not bitter cold- you might be able to accomplish this with out a heater.

crazycat · 10-31-2005, 04:51 PM

i think the loaches eat them pretty quickly. the other day i noticed that there were a WHOLE bunch of tiny apple snail babies in my tank. within a few days they were all gone. i have 4 clown loahces (all over 3") and 3 yoyo loaches. alas--no more baby snails. but i have a snail only tank that is pumping out red ramshorns like crazy...

jrp1588 · 10-31-2005, 06:17 PM

oww my eyes! your font color is killing me. Well, when i first got loaches...I had a huge snail population...several weeks later...no snails. I was snail free for almost a year. haha...now they are slowly returning

10-29-2005, 09:48 PM	#1
Janmitch22 Aquarium Advice Newbie Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Tennessee Posts: 4	Beginner snail questions What exactly do you do to get enough snails in the tank so that there isn't an excess or depletion of snails? Is that even possible? How many should I start off buying? What is a good kind to buy? I have five clown loaches; they range in size from one inch to about two inches. I just want to give them something different. I thought the snails might be a treat and a quirk factor for the tank.

10-31-2005, 03:28 AM	#5
lyquidphyre Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: McKinney, Tx Posts: 2,860 Images: 21	Hey Janmitch- my background settings for AA is a dark blue (and it might be for some other members as well), so when you use dark colors, its hard for me to read =o) For a snail tank you probably just need an aerator to keep the water circulating and make sure the water stays kind of warm- but not bitter cold- you might be able to accomplish this with out a heater. __________________ Have cats? Check out AA's sister site designed for our feline friends

10-31-2005, 04:51 PM	#6
crazycat Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: nyc Posts: 597 Images: 19	i think the loaches eat them pretty quickly. the other day i noticed that there were a WHOLE bunch of tiny apple snail babies in my tank. within a few days they were all gone. i have 4 clown loahces (all over 3") and 3 yoyo loaches. alas--no more baby snails. but i have a snail only tank that is pumping out red ramshorns like crazy... __________________ don't turn your back on the ocean.

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10-30-2005, 07:36 AM	#2
hardcyder Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Belleville, Ontario, Canada Posts: 31 Images: 5	If you have another small tank around, start a snail only tank. I have a snail and shrimp tank, but feel the glass shrimp eat a lot of the young snails and eggs. That way you can raise a lot more to keep the loaches happy. Afraid with loaches you wont be able to build up much of a colony of snails in the main tank . I have one yoyo loach in my comunity tank that I got to reduce a snail infestation. He almost wiped them all out.

10-31-2005, 01:35 AM	#4
Janmitch22 Aquarium Advice Newbie Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Tennessee Posts: 4	Thanks! I'll try to get that project going, then. A couple of more questions.... Just how many snails would a loach eat in a day or so? Do the snails need a full-on tank with filter and heater? Devilish, cute picture!